Diary updates
Subscribe to theIn this section, the Director of Support Services, Nigel Collett, offers a brief update on the progress of the work.
2 November 2009
“We are on track to open as planned on 16 November which is great news. The first floor is busy with workers finalising bathrooms, finishing off wallpapering and even cleaning windows in anticipation of curtains being fixed. The carpets and furnishings look great - particularly the images we've used from the Library collection. Later this week beds (Hypnos) will be delivered and then the formal handover with the builders is next Monday. If you've not yet booked in to the new look domus please do so soon!”
12 October 2009
“Spent this morning reviewing progress of bedrooms and all is well on schedule. Construction work is complete on the four new bedrooms and they are a very good size. In many rooms the wallpapering is complete and the fixings for the tv unit are being installed. The rooms really do appear light and airy which is what we wanted to achieve. Flooring in the entrance areas to rooms and tiling in bathrooms is being completed as well. All the bathroom showers have been pressure tested and where rooms only have a shower then we are providing a fixed position showerhead and a moveable one.
The key card units are also being installed and we approved signage from the lounge to the bedrooms today.
Another major improvement is the lighting in the corridors - Members will see a big change with the area much lighter with a dedicated light above each doorway.
We have also decided to name the suite as the Jephcott Suite - this is a much larger room with lounge area and should prove very popular.
Time marches on and in the next couple of weeks we should see the completion of bathrooms and decorating. Arranging for the correct timing of arrival of beds and furniture is the next thing to confirm!”
26 August 2009
“Spent some of this afternoon with our Membership Director visiting the building site that will be transformed into our 44 new bedrooms by the middle of November. It's amazing to think that work has only been underway for just over a month and significant progress has been made.
The old domus meeting rooms are no more and have been reconfigured into 4 new bedrooms - 2 of which will be suitable for those who are disabled in some way and which will also have an adjoining door to a room for a carer or companion. We realise that these will also make good family suites particularly at weekends so would encourage members who plan to visit with their children to book these rooms.
All the old bathrooms have been ripped out of the existing bedrooms and first fix electrics nearly completed. Next week plastering of the rooms and tiling of bathrooms begins in earnest.
It's also been good to see that the Junior Suite we'd planned will be a very good size and contain both bath and walk-in shower in the bathroom. We expect this to be a very popular room!
The holiday season is drawing to a close so the RSM Club areas will be busier in the next few weeks. We have new season menus which are looking very good - to book a table just visit our restaurant page or email restaurant@rsm.ac.uk
If you are staying in accommodation arranged through our reciprocal club links or hotels nearby whilst domus is closed, when you show your room key you will receive a 10% discount when eating in our restaurant.”
13 July 2009
“Work is due to start in just a week from now on the domus refurbishment project - pleasing to think that within a relatively short time we'll have 44 top quality rooms to offer our Fellows.
The last couple of weeks have been very busy, finalising details and the sample showroom bedroom has been a great success. Over the last week we've had over 50 people to view the restyled bedroom with a few overnight guests testing out all the facilities! Feedback has been very positive and it's given us an opportunity to review furniture, fittings and decoration. Overall we're extremely pleased with the results but are asking the designers to make some improvements - particularly in relation to the shower fittings and window operation. We're keen that all those who will stay in the future find the rooms suitable when staying for business, study or for an enjoyable weekend break.
Domus will be closed from 19 July but Fellows should remember that we have made arrangements for alternative accommodation nearby. Also please do remember that if you are stying nearby and wish to use the restaurant in the evening you are eligible for a 10% discount on production of your roomkey.
The bar, buttery, lounges and restaurant remain open throughout the summer so do continue to visit us and use the facilities - I and the team will be happy to update you on the latest progress.”
12 June 2009
“Work on the test bedroom is now underway and one of the existing domus bedrooms is now out of action and has been totally stripped. Next few weeks are key in seeing how all our plans can work to improve the quality of the rooms we provide to Fellows.
For latest pictures, please visit the gallery page.
Another improvement when the project is complete will be the ability to book bedrooms online through our website - and also amend bookings or cancel them. Although Fellows can still call us we hope that by providing an online facility this will speed up bookings - especially as Members can then make these at a time that suits them”
21 May 2009
“Work has moved on apace in the background over the last few weeks preparing letters of intent and organising contracts with our supplier Fileturn who are going to be responsible for this project.
The good news is that the latest plans prove we can add 4 extra bedrooms rather than the three we originally envisaged - by turning the Domus Boardrooms into new bedrooms. In addition we're also making one room into a Suite as we often get requests for this type of accommodation.
Because the 4 rooms are totally new build we're making 2 of them fully DDA compliant and each room will have an inter-connecting door with an adjacent bedroom so a carer or nurse is close by. However, they are being designed in such a way that they are suited for able bodied guests too.
Our next important date is 1 June when work starts on a sample bedroom so that we can test out layout, fixtures and fittings. This should be ready by early July for review.
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16 March 2009
“Following months of research and planning we've now got Council agreement to proceed with the refurbishment of Domus and we're now at the stage of making final decisions on the room specifications with our chosen supplier.
We realise it's going to be a challenge to complete the project in the timespan allowed but have been assured it is possible - and we have an advantage in that we can close off the whole section of the building to give contractors good access without affecting any other parts of the building. This is making me less worried!
Thankfully this means Fellows can continue to use the Library and indeed all the other Club facilities over the summer months and into the new Academic year in October.
Our team have been extremely busy refining specifications for each of the rooms - based on feedback from users and also working with suppliers on trends for the future as we need to ensure that the bedrooms will be future proof.
Good news is that we've managed to secure alternative arrangements for Members over the period we're closed - obviously we've got Chandos House but also some local hotels and six Clubs too as we realise that many Fellows enjoy the Club ambience and we've put details on all of these onto our website. Now onto reviewing the choice of paint colourways and furnishings with our project team!”